Despite the continuing scandal, a poll in October showed two-thirds of Germans still trust VW.
Photograph: Patrik Stollarz/AFP/Getty Images

The Volkswagen diesel emissions scandal broke on a Friday in mid-September and continues to deepen. Here is how it unfolded.

18 September

VW is told to recall 482,000 cars in the US after it is caught deploying sophisticated software to cheat emissions tests and let its cars produce up to 40 times more pollution than allowed.

20 September

VW starts showing some contrition and orders an external investigation. The then chief executive, Martin Winterkorn, says he is “deeply sorry”.

21 September

Within minutes of the Frankfurt stock exchange opening on Monday morning, €15bn (£11bn) is wiped off VW’s share price. The German government warns that the scandal jeopardises the reputation of the country’s entire car industry.

The former VW CEO, Martin Winterkorn, who resigned in September with a €28m pension pot. Photograph: Michael Sohn/AP

22 September

VW now admits there are 11 million cars worldwide fitted with its defeat devices. Winterkorn says he is “endlessly sorry” but insists he will not resign. The US chief, Michael Horn, says the company “totally screwed up”.

23 September

Winterkorn quits but insists he is “not aware of any wrongdoing on [his] part” – and walks away with a €28m pension pot. Class-action lawsuits are filed in the US and Canada and criminal investigations are launched by the US Justice Department.

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24 September

Germany confirms that VW vehicles with software installed to cheat emissions tests were sold across Europe. The UK’s Department for Transport says it will start its own inquiry into car emissions, as VW faces a barrage of legal claims from British car owners.

3 October

6 October

8 October

Police raid VW’s headquarters in Wolfsburg, Germany. VW’s US boss, Michael Horn, says he feels personally deceived by the scandal and finds it hard to believe that just two rogue engineers were at the root of the furore.